Musical Soirée

Event Information

Venue(s):
Chickering's Rooms

Event Type:
Chamber (includes Solo)

Performance Forces:
Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
3 July 2021

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

19 Jan 1870, Evening

Program Details

Piano duets and solos by the Guzmans; by invitation.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Mrs. Frederick Guzman;  Jenny Landsman;  Frederick Guzman
2)
Polonaise brillant, piano, op. 72
Composer(s): Weber
3)
Souvenir
Composer(s): Guzman
4)
Waltz, piano, A minor
Composer(s): Guzman
5)
Grand duo, pianos (2), op. 128
Composer(s): Kalkbrenner
6)
Victoire, La
Composer(s): Guzman
Participants:  Frederick Guzman
7)
Works, piano (hands, 4). Selections
Composer(s): Gottschalk

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Post, 19 January 1870, 2.
2)
Review: Dwight's Journal of Music, 29 January 1870, 181-82.

“New York, Jan. 20—An invitation concert at Chickering’s Rooms, last night, deserves mention, not only as an enjoyable evening, but also as an event of no little interest and significance in the musical world. For this ‘Soirée musicale’ we are indebted to M. and Mme. Frederic Guzman, the Chilean pianists, whose playing, for two winter’s past, created so much enthusiasm among the musicians and critics of Paris. This soirée at Chickering’s only added one to many opportunities of hearing these artists, together and separate, which I have enjoyed since their arrival in America. The invitations numbered about 200, and were extended mainly to critics and musicians, and, though the evening was badly timed, our best reporters being in attendance at Miss Mehlig’s concert in Steinway Hall; the fine rooms of Messrs. Chickering & Co. were nevertheless well filled by an audience capable of listening and judging.

“Mr. Guzman is a native of Santiago, Chile, and was associated with Gottschalk while the lamented artist was giving concerts in Valparaiso and Santiago. M. Guzman has since passed several years in Europe, devoting his time to a careful study of classical music, which, it need be said, is almost unknown in his own country. He is now, probably, the best living representative of the style in which Gottschalk was pre-eminent—while, at the same time he has another style, entirely different, which we ascribe to the influence of Chopin’s music later in life. M. Guzman on this occasion played Weber’s Polonaise in E, to which he gave full and free interpretation, displaying at the same time a wonderful technique; a Nocturne of his own composition (Souvenir in D); and, for an encore, a waltz in A minor, also his own. Both of these are works of great merit, and were played with exquisite delicacy and grace.

“But the unique feature of the concert was the playing of several Duos for the piano, by M. Guzman, assisted by his wife, herself an artist of uncommon ability. These pieces comprised the famous Duo by Kalkbrenner; a March, La Victoire, by M. Guzman; and a number of Cuban Dances for four hands by Gottschalk. It has never before been my fortune to hear two artists play together with such perfect unity, such élan, such abandon. The effect—above all in the Cuban dances—was amazing and resembles nothing which I have ever heard. The gifted artists were frequently recalled, and the murmurs of surprise and curiosity heard on all sides bore ample testimony of their success. They will soon give a public concert at Steinway Hall, and will, undoubtedly, make a sensation here this winter. They were assisted last evening by Miss Jenny Landsman, who sang several pieces with excellent effect.”